Hima Cement powers more than half its production with renewable biomass instead of fossil fuels. David Mugagga told energy leaders at a Kampala meeting that coffee husks, palm kernels, rice husks and sawdust fire their kilns. The company gave farmers 10 million coffee seedlings in 2016, helping them earn money from crops whose waste later powers cement making. Their biomass team works with other firms to use non-hazardous waste that would fill landfills. These partnerships help businesses meet environmental goals and cut carbon footprints.
The cement maker builds major projects like Mandela Stadium and Entebbe Expressway. They belong to Sarrai Group, which runs SM Hydro that adds electricity to the national supply. Energy Minister...
Kyambogo University kicked out 17 students for one month after they spoke up about school fees. The university told Guild President Benjamin Akiso and his friends that they had caused trouble during protests on April 23. Students had marched against rules that made them pay all fees before signing up for classes. They also faced a late fee of 50,000 shillings and were asked to take tests after paying just 70 percent of the costs.
Vice Chancellor Eli Katunguka sent letters saying these students chased others from classrooms and burned tires near campus. Without his written permission, he banned them from school grounds until May 31. The students must prepare to defend themselves at a future hearing with the Disciplinary Committee. Those...
Vice President Dr. Kuol met with Major General Bitew today to discuss peace deals. They discussed how to speed up the peace agreement to achieve more stability across South Sudan. The general said everyone who signed must keep their promises for it to work.
Dr. Kuol said the government completely supports the peace plan. He explained that President Kiir wants a peaceful, united country with better lives for all citizens. The vice president pointed out that peace helps the economy grow stronger.
With peace, South Sudan can attract more business money, grow more food, build roads, and create jobs. Dr. Kuol asked everyone to help protect the progress made so far. He said keeping peace builds trust between different groups.
Officials grilled ex-Banjul City Council adviser Macoumba Sanneh about his job at Monday's Local Government inquiry. Lead investigator Patrick Gomez claimed Sanneh landed the job only because he ran the mayor's campaign. Sanneh admitted he never applied for the position, working first on monthly contracts. He lacked any formal training or experience in city governance despite his adviser title.
His 2021 agreement called him a qualified professional with technical skills, though Sanneh claimed the consultant label was just a mistake. When asked how he advised the council without attending meetings, he said he passed ideas through the mayor or CEO. Gomez fired back that no mayor can make decisions alone. Sanneh claimed he helped raise...
A health leader wants help to fight a harmful substance among women. Rohey Sey Corr from Mothers Health Foundation told The Voice that Taba poses bigger health risks than female genital cutting or violence against women. She calls it a quiet epidemic harming many women who have already gone through genital cutting. Medical experts say the substance can cause cancer despite users claiming it replaces lost pleasure.
Teenagers and young women keep using more Taba, with many becoming addicted. The problem tears families apart as both men and women suffer. Corr said one husband beat his wife and left her because of her Taba addiction. Her group has worked for nearly six years without money from the government or international groups. She...
The Ministry of Environment met with groups from across The Gambia to approve the 2025 Gender and Climate Change action plan. WACA project rep Mansanneh Landing Ceesay said they helped fund this work because they care about fighting climate change alongside gender equality. He called the plan a major step toward building a future that works for everyone.
Ceesay thanked the Environment Ministry, the Gender Ministry, consultants, and local partners for their hard work on finishing the plan. He promised WACA would keep backing such efforts because they strengthen communities. Gender Equality Director Mariyann Jabang praised the project for matching her ministry's goals of fair development for all Gambians.
She said WACA will help protect...
Hotel leaders met at the Sunset Beach Hotel last Wednesday for their yearly meeting with the Tourism Minister. GHA Chairperson Hayat Blell talked about their work advocating for member hotels across The Gambia. She said their office at Djembe Beach Hotel participated in many talks with officials throughout 2024.
The group sits on several national boards such as the World Bank tourism project, the Gambia Tourism Board, the Food Safety Board, and the Labor Department. Blell sent a paper to the Tourism Minister about problems facing hotels, and the ministry has been working with them on solutions. They ran training sessions with partners from the Netherlands and local tourism groups.
The association updated its website and worked with...
Local councils across The Gambia met last week to find better ways to raise money for community projects. The Gambia Association of Local Government Authorities brought council members together for a two-day workshop at a Kotu hotel. They talked about new ways to fund local development programs that serve their communities. GALGA President Mahamadou Ceesay said local governments struggle with funding their work.
The EU-UNDP GREAT Initiative backed the workshop, with additional support from the Commonwealth Local Government Forum through European Union funds. Participants discussed problems like small budgets and the need for more trained staff. James Monibah from the GREAT Initiative called better local fundraising both a money issue...
A Banjul City Council official admitted to breaking rules when buying city supplies. Katim Touray told investigators he failed to keep proper records for market toilet renovations. He wrote notes on paper but threw them away after making budget requests.
Touray said contractors often started work without any formal bidding process. The Ganjam Company began fixing toilets before signing any contracts because the Mayor told them to. The council bought dustbins for 4,000 each, which Touray agreed was much more than they should have paid.
He never checked market prices first, saying he just wanted to fix sanitation problems fast. Lead investigator Patrick Gomez called these actions completely against the law and a waste of public money...
